ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, 3RD-4TH CENTURY CE

The present scene may represent Mara’s army assaulting Buddha as he achieves enlightenment. In this narrative, Buddha meditates for forty days underneath the bodhi tree. The demon king, Mara sends warriors and beasts to distract Buddha, but their efforts fail: as the army approaches, Buddha touches upon the earth to witness his enlightenment, and the army is warded off. In this relief, Buddha is depicted in the center, seated in meditation pose. Two regally dressed men standing beside him carry swords, and at least one theriomorphic beast is depicted taunting Buddha from his proper left side. Both human and beastly figures trample below Buddha’s seat. Contrary to how the scene is portrayed in later Buddhist art, Buddha is not depicted touching the earth; rather, his right hand is reaching downward, the other grasping his robe.
This scene is quite rare in Gandharan art, with few compositions to compare to the present work. A well-preserved narrative relief panel representing four scenes from the life of Buddha at the Freer Gallery of Art (acc. no. F1949.9a-d) includes a depiction of Mara’s assault in a composition very similar to the present relief. In this representation, Buddha is seated upon a throne, with two warriors tumbling beneath him. Two men flank either side of Buddha, similarly attired, and sword-equipped. An array of armed and threatening beasts is mixed in with the human figures filling the background. In the Freer example, Buddha’s left hand is clutching his robe, and his right hand is more clearly gesturing to the earth.